The Election Petitions Tribunal hearing the All Progressives Congress’ Adegboyega Oyetola’s petition against the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Ademola Adeleke on Friday annulled the result of the July 16 Osun governorship poll.
Delivering his verdict, Justice Tetsea Kume, declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission did not comply substantially with the constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
He subsequently deducted the over-voting observed from the votes scored by the candidates and declared that Oyetola won the election, having polled 314, 921, while Adeleke’s score came down to 290, 266.
He, therefore, directed INEC to withdraw Adeleke’s certificate of return and issue another one to Oyetola who won a majority of the lawful votes.
A lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, had, on Thursday, assured the people that there was no cause for alarm as the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal will on Friday (today), dismiss the petition filed by Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressive Congress and deliver a judgment on the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the July 16 governorship election.
But. This was not to be as the Tribunal gave its judgment in favour of the APC Oyetola.
In a swift reaction, the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has rejected the decision by the Election Tribunal and has vowed to appeal the judgment.
In a statement signed by his spokesman, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor described it as a miscarriage of justice.
The statement read: “The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has described the judgement of the governorship tribunal as ” a miscarriage of justice”, vowing to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
“Reacting to the verdict of the Tribunal from his country home, Ede, Governor Adeleke faulted the resolution of the over-voting question in favour of Mr Oyetola, calling it “an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters”
“While urging his supporters to remain calm, Governor Adeleke vowed to appeal the judgement at the Court of Appeal, insisting he remains the rightful winner of the July 16 election.
“I call on our people to remain calm. We will appeal the judgement and we are sure justice will be done. Let our people be reassured that we will do everything possible to retain this widely acclaimed mandate”, Governor Adeleke declared.”